ES 117 / BIOL 117: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (4)
In this lecture/laboratory course students explore how organisms, communities, and ecosystems function under natural conditions, as well as how they function under human influence. We will cover a variety of current environmental concerns in both the classroom and laboratory, including the patterns of human population growth, the extinction crisis, global warming, acid rain, water pollution, solid waste management, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. Also listed as ES 117. Not intended for students majoring in biology. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. (SCI)
BIOL/ES 357: CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (4)
In this seminar, students will apply active learning strategies to build a conceptual foundation for conservation biology, including conservation values and ethics. Building on this foundation, we will explore the primary threats to biological conservation, including habitat degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, and biological impacts of climate change. We will then conclude with various professional approaches to solving conservation problems—how to apply this knowledge to action. Also listed as ES 357. Prerequisites: BIOL/ES 207 and 207L and permission.
BIOL 241: PLANT BIOLOGY (4)
In this course, students will gain a foundational comprehension of the structure, function, and diversity of plants, and will be challenged to build an integrated understanding of plants, from an awareness of their molecular biology to their roles in an ecosystem. We will then tap into this knowledge to engage in active learning experiences to recognize and appreciate practical applications of plant biology, including conservation, environmental sustainability, biotechnology, and the important connections of plants to society. No prerequisite. Offered Term 1. (SCI: must take lab to fulfill SCI)
BIOL 241L: PLANT BIOLOGY LAB (4)
In this course, students will gain a foundational comprehension of the structure, function, and diversity of plants, and will be challenged to build an integrated understanding of plants, from an awareness of their molecular biology to their roles in an ecosystem. We will then tap into this knowledge to engage in active learning experiences to recognize and appreciate practical applications of plant biology, including conservation, environmental sustainability, biotechnology, and the important connections of plants to society. No prerequisite. Offered Term 1. (SCI: must take lab to fulfill SCI)
BIOL L111: Foundations in Biology: Diversity,
Evolution and Ecology
Course Description: This course explores (1) the diversity of species on our planet, (2) the evolutionary processes that both generate this species diversity and shape variation within populations, (3) how these evolutionary processes relate to the astonishing diversity we observe in organismal behavior, physiology and ecology, (4) the fit of organisms to their ecologies, and (5) the interactions between species and their environments. The goal of the course is for students to learn fundamental concepts in evolution and ecology via organism-level examples of species adaptations and interactions. An additional goal is to develop critical analytical skills via exposure to case studies and empirical primary scientific literature.
Course Goals: We will learn about evolutionary and ecological process by examining existing theory and applying those principles to real-life examples. Within each of the 5 parts of the course, we will discuss key biological concepts, many of which will recur in subsequent parts of the course. The presence of these threads of thinking is indicative of the integrative nature of organismal biology, natural history, evolution and ecology. We will explore graphical representations of data and learn to describe and interpret data and patterns – skills that will promote both your success in the Life Sciences and your ability to engage with and think critically about the world in which you live. An overarching goal is to understand that Biology is not a list of irrefutable facts in a textbook but rather a rich and dynamic process of investigation, validation, revision and discovery by scientists.
BY162: Botany and Botany Lab (4)
Course Description
This course will combine lecture, laboratory and other interactive activities to introduce you to 1.) plants as fascinating organisms and 2.) fundamental biological principles with plants as exemplars. As a student in this course, you are expected to engage with course material both during class meetings and in your own time. Students completing this course should see significant growth in their skills at independent analysis and application of information and will exhibit comprehension and synthesis of the fundamental principles of plant biology, including plant classification, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and applications of botany in the “real world.”